PIDF ISG PREPARES PACIFIC FOR CRITICAL INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE TALKS

The PIDF Secretariat on Friday 22 May at 10am hosted the first Talanoa Session for key local and regional stakeholders in preparation for the June session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP).

The SBSTA supports the work of the COP and the CMP through the provision of timely information and advice on scientific and technological matters as they relate to the Convention or its Kyoto Protocol. The SBI supports the work of the COP and the CMP through the assessment and review of the effective implementation of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol. The ADP mandate is to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties, which is to be completed no later than 2015 in order for it to be adopted at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and for it to come into effect and be implemented from 2020.
There are two sessions (in June and December) of the UNFCCC taking place in one year to deliberate on the on-going work programme of the Conference of Parties (COP) and its subsidiary bodies- Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). For the June session this year, the forty-second sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 42) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 42) will be held from 1-11 June 2015 in Bonn, Germany. In addition, the negotiations to achieve a New Climate Change Agreement in 2015 through the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP2-9) will also take place during the same period.

The PIDF Interim Secretary General Mr Amena Yauvoli is the current Chair of the SBI and the only Pacific Islander currently holding a leadership position in one of the key agencies of the UNFCC as the world prepares for critical Climate Negotiations in Paris at the end of the year. Given Mr Amena’s central role in the UNFCC internal processes and the fact that the PIDF is the only Pacific only leaders organization, the PIDF is well positioned to assist Pacific Islands Countries prepare well for the upcoming Paris UNFCC Climate Talks.
Speaking on the briefing Mr Yauvoli says:

“I cannot stress enough the importance of the PIDF members effectively participating in these three important sessions of the SBI, SBSTA, and ADP in dealing with climate issues. The main agenda items of the SB’s are the review of obligations and commitments by parties under the Convention and the ADP is focusing on achieving a new climate change agreement at COP21 in Paris in December 2015. One thing is clear with me that we need to prepare well in order to advance our positions in the SBs and the negotiations of a new CC agreement.”
In view of the importance of the coordination role by the PIDF being the only Pacific only leadership forum, the meeting agreed for further talanoa sessions leading to Paris.
The Third PIDF Summit in September will climax our preparations in a special Leaders Forum during the Summit to be coordinated by the SPC.
YouTube Link on the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvUzFX8xBvQ